Hello all, I was banded 1/6/11 I am going for my first fill feb. 18 th. I heard some drs. Use x-rays with fills I don't know if mine does or not I would assume X-ray is better? Can you tell me what getting a fill feels like. And how long in between do you wait .

HI! Congrats on your new lapband! I am 2 years post op and still love it! First of all, don't ya worry a bit...having a fill does not hurt. First the doctor will feel around for the port - this was a bit uncomfortable but not painful at all. Then he puts the needle in- which is weird because I didn't feel it but I heard it pop into the port. Last he fills it with the saline. He had me take a sip of water- I felt it bubble up in my throat so the dr told me he overfilled the band, so I laid back down and he removed some of the saline. Took another sip of water and it went down just fine. My Dr. never used x-rays during the fill. As far as how long you go in between fills I'm not sure. I had one fill a couple weeks post op....then a second fill a couple months later, then that's it.

Hope that helps and let us know how your first fill was!

I was banded last month, and had my first fill two days ago.

The PA at the surgeon's office who did the fill is quite experienced. We talked about what she was going to do, and how she was going to do it. My port is located front and center on my upper left stomach area, so is easy to find. She showed me how she puts her index finger on one side of the port, her ring finger on the other side of the port to frame it, and the nail of her middle finger right over the center of the port. Because the needle is curved, she kind of rolls the tip forward, toward the center of her nail, which she moves at the last second, and pokes the needle tip down into the center of the port. She sprayed an aerosol anaesthetic on the skin above the port first, so I didn't feel anything.

Once in the port, she withdrew the saline in the band, to confirm how much was in it. The surgeon said he put in three CCs during placement, but it turned out to be 3.2 CCs. She verified it was clear (no sign of contamination or anything), so she put it back in the band, then added two more CCs beyond that. So now I have 5.2 CCs in my 14 CC band.

It was all over within a minute or two. They had me sit in the waiting room for about 20 minutes, and drink a half glass of Water, to make sure there were no complications. There were none, and they sent me on my way. They asked me to go on liquids for two days, then mushes for two more, then solids as normal after that. My next fill is in four weeks.

All in all, it was kind of a non-event. I don't feel any different after going through it. So I think you'll be fine.

Good luck!

Dave

I just had my first fill yesterday and it was not bad at all. She felt around for the port and explained how laying down my port would be below my incision and she gave a numbing shot and then put the needle in. It stung for just a split second but that was it. She pulled back on the syringe to see how much was in there and it also confirms good placement and then put more fill in. She had me take a few sips of water and she said I would have a little gurgling burping but the water should go down with ease and it did. I was told mushies for the next 24 hours. That was it and I go back in a month for possibly another fill.

Thank you al!!!

Just had a fill today, coincidentally. My doctor does use the x-ray and I love it that way. I can see the liquid going down and he fills it exactly to the right level so the fluid goes down at the speed he believes it should. This was my third fill. The whole procedure is completely painless and I'm sure, x-ray or not, it will be just fine! The only part I'm not enjoying is the fact that I'm on liquids for three days and then mushies for one, that's the instructions from my doctor. I notice others don't need to go on liquids for so long... Good luck!

I had my first fill today. Surgery 20th December. The doctor struggled with the port and said it was now vertical so couldn't easily put any water in it. After much pushing and manipulation under xray he managed it. It was incredibly painful and now I feel very sore indeed. Not really sure what to do next gonna ring the hospital tomorrow for advice. Has anyone else had any problems with port movement ?

Just had a fill today, coincidentally. My doctor does use the x-ray and I love it that way. I can see the liquid going down and he fills it exactly to the right level so the fluid goes down at the speed he believes it should. This was my third fill. The whole procedure is completely painless and I'm sure, x-ray or not, it will be just fine! The only part I'm not enjoying is the fact that I'm on liquids for three days and then mushies for one, that's the instructions from my doctor. I notice others don't need to go on liquids for so long... Good luck!

I have been told fluids for 3 days mush for 3 days. I think It's just the surgeons preference roll on proper food x